Simhasanadvatrimshika 10.p1

10.p1

punar api rājā yāvat siṃhāsana upaviśati, tāvad anyayā puttalikayā bhaṇitam: bho rājan, yasya vikramasyau 'dāryādiguṇā bhavanti, so 'smin siṃhāsana upaveṣṭuṃ yogyo bhavati. rājño 'ktam: bhoḥ puttalike, kathaya tasyau 'dāryavṛttāntam. sā 'bravīt: śrūyatāṃ rājan. vikrame rājyaṃ kurvati sati kaścid yogy ujjayinīṃ praty āgataḥ. sa ca vedaśāstravaidyajyotiṣagaṇitabharataśāstrādisakalakalāvicakṣaṇaḥ; kiṃ bahunā? tatsadṛśo 'nyo nā 'sti, sākṣāt sarvajña eva. ekadā vikramo rājā tasya prasiddhiṃ śrutvā tam āhvātuṃ purohitaṃ preṣitavān. sa ca tadantikaṃ gatvā namaskṛtyā 'bravīt: bhoḥ svāmin, rājā bhavantam āhvayati; tatrā 'gantavyam. yogino 'ktam: bho buddhiman, rājadarśanenā 'smākaṃ prayojanaṃ kim asti?

When the king again was mounting the throne, another statue said: “O king, he is worthy to ascend this throne who has the magnanimity and other virtues of Vikrama.” The king said: “O statue, tell me a tale of his magnanimity.” And she said: “O king, listen.

While Vikrama was king a certain ascetic once came to Ujjayinī. He was skilled in all the arts and sciences — the Vedas, the law-books, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, acting, and the rest. In short, there was no one like him; he was as the very Omniscient in visible form. One time King Vikrama, having heard of his renown, sent his house-priest to summon him. He came into the ascetic’s presence and made obeisance and said: “Reverend sir, the king summons your worship; come to him." The ascetic answered: "Learned sir, what care I for seeing a king? 1. Let us live from almsgiving, let us go clad in nothing but the heavens, let us sleep upon the ground; why should we have to do with princes? And again: 2. One who has no desires [= an ascetic] is not a politician ['office-holder']; one who is not in love is not fond of ornament; one who is not crafty does not make flattering speeches; one whose words are straightforward is not a trickster."